SL vs NZ | Kusal and Avishka tons set up commanding Lankan victory in rain-affected first ODI

After a brief spell of rain that delayed the game briefly, Pathum Nissanka got the series off to a rollicking start with three quick boundaries against the new ball, including back-to-back fours off Jacob Duffy. However, the right arm quick had the last laugh as the opener ended up holing out immediately after for 12 albeit it was all downhill thereafter for the Kiwis. Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando played like two veterans of 50-over cricket as they pierced gaps comfortably throughout the powerplay to rack up 57 runs in the first 10 overs. Skipper Mitchell Santner was quick to bring himself into the attack on the dry surface alongwith fellow spinners Ish Sodhi and Michael Bracewell but their counterparts milked runs with relative ease, scoring at nearly run-a-ball till over 20 before bringing up their half-centuries in consecutive overs. Well set, the duo decided to break the shackles and upped the rate at which they stroked boundaries while approaching their respective tons. Even though Avishka slowed down his charge towards the end, he ended up registering his first ODI ton in three years and was ultimately caught at long-on in an attempt to re-up the ante, followed shortly by another Sadeera Samawickarama failure. Nevertheless, with Mendis also into triple digits and the score reading a pretty 238/3 with 10 overs to go, the opener let loose with back-to-back maximums against Bracewell followed by a boundary three deliveries later. Skipper Charith Asalnka furthered the Black Caps' misery with a quick 28-ball cameo of 40 and propelled the hosts up to 324/5 when rain interrupted proceedings with four balls remaining in the innings.

When play finally resumed more than two overs later, the game had been restricted to 27 overs and the target read a stiff 221 for the Kiwis. Will Young and debutant Tim Robinson denied the Lions any early inroads as they racked up 39 runs in the six-over powerplay. However, Maheesh Theekshana spoilt the party by scalping both men in the 14th over to break an 89-run stand and the visitors never recovered thereafter. Three more wickets followed in the next four overs, two of which belonged to Asalanka, and by the time another debutant Mitchell Hay departed the requirement read a steep 87 runs off 34 balls. Bracewell played a consolatory unbeaten knock of 34 but it was only enough to reduce the defeat margin to 45 runs, with Dilshan Madushanka's two-wicket final over proving to be the final nail in the coffin.

Congratulations boys 🇱🇰 ❤🎉 

— ඩුලාන් 🇱🇰 (@Dulan_Is_Here) 

They just went like that!

Phillips gone. Game over. 

— ⚡ Bee⚡  (@Bee_Hi123) 

What?

NZ were 87-0 after 13 overs!

They lost 5-23 and lost their way completely 

— #BackTheBLACKCAPS 🇳🇿 (@KW_Fans436) 

Massive victory for them!